![Devajit Saikia of BCCI [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1784556942226_DevajitSaikiaofBCCI.jpg?type=hq)
Devajit Saikia of BCCI [Source: AFP]
The Indian women's cricket team once again finds itself at a crossroads after another disappointing ICC tournament campaign. Despite showing glimpses of brilliance in patches, India failed to make the knockout stage of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, extending the frustration around a team that has often promised much but fallen short on the biggest occasions.
With questions now being raised over leadership, team management and the overall direction of the side, discussions around significant structural changes have already begun. One such proposal has now come from a former Indian captain, who believes a fresh approach could help the team move forward.
Diana Edulji calls for split captaincy across all three formats
Former India women's captain Diana Edulji has urged the BCCI to introduce a split-captaincy model instead of continuing with Harmanpreet Kaur leading the team in all three formats.
Edulji believes the burden of captaincy has started affecting Harmanpreet's individual performances and that it is the right time to groom a new generation of leaders.
"I believe Harmanpreet is finding it difficult as captain. Her game is getting affected, so let her have a free hand as a batter. She used to be a great all-rounder, but then she limited herself to only batting. However, now we see her batting getting affected as well. I believe it's been too long; we need to allow younger players to lead," Edulji said at the trophy unveiling ceremony of the Maharani Trophy KSCA T20 at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium.
The former India skipper also recommended a complete change in the leadership structure instead of relying on one captain across formats.
"I recommend a split captaincy. Even a system with three different coaches would benefit us. It's very important to bring in fresh ideas and get out of our comfort zone."
Edulji's remarks come shortly after India crashed out of the Women's T20 World Cup in the group stage despite beginning the tournament with convincing victories over Pakistan and the Netherlands.
Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma backed as future captains
While calling for change, Diana Edulji also identified the players she believes are capable of taking Indian women's cricket into a new era.
According to the former captain, India already possess enough leadership talent within the current squad and should begin preparing them for bigger responsibilities.
"We definitely have talent, namely Smriti and Shafali. We need to train these cricketers to lead moving forward."
Interestingly, Harmanpreet Kaur was recently retained as India's captain for the upcoming Asian Games despite the World Cup disappointment.
Edulji, however, feels the transition should begin now rather than waiting for another ICC event to pass.
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India's recent results explain why leadership is under scrutiny
The discussion around captaincy has gathered momentum largely because of India's inconsistent performances across formats in recent months.
Earlier this year, India endured a forgettable tour of Australia, losing the ODI series 3-0 before suffering a heavy 10-wicket defeat in the one-off Test. The team then lost the five-match T20I series against South Africa 4-1 despite winning the fourth game.
India showed encouraging signs during the England tour by sharing the three-match T20I series before entering the Women's T20 World Cup with confidence.
At the World Cup, Harmanpreet Kaur's side comfortably defeated Pakistan, the Netherlands and Bangladesh. However, defeats against South Africa and Australia ended India's campaign in the group stage once again.
The team finally responded in style by defeating England by 270 runs in the one-off Test at Lord's earlier this month, but the disappointment of another failed ICC campaign continues to dominate conversations surrounding the side.
Can split captaincy help Indian women's cricket?
The proposal certainly has its merits. Harmanpreet Kaur has been leading India across all three formats for several years. Managing leadership responsibilities alongside expectations with the bat can become mentally demanding, especially in an international calendar that continues to get busier.
A split-captaincy model could allow Harmanpreet to focus entirely on her batting while simultaneously helping India prepare future leaders.
Smriti Mandhana appears to be a natural candidate given her leadership experience and calm approach. She has already enjoyed considerable success as captain in franchise cricket, guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women to multiple Women's Premier League titles.
Meanwhile, Shafali Verma's aggressive mindset and growing experience also make her an exciting long-term leadership option in one of the white-ball formats.
